Chelsea vs Arsenal Preview

September 18, 2015
By: Deke Hardman

Jose Mourinho

Saturday’s Premier League action kicks off at Stamford Bridge, where champions Chelsea host rivals Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho’s side have taken just four points from their opening five league games and lost to 3-1 to Everton a week ago – their third defeat of the season.

However, they go in to the game on the back of a 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the opening round of Champions League matches, and will hope to take that momentum into this fixture as they aim to fix their floundering league campaign.

Radamel Falcao and Pedro could return after missing the midweek fixture through injury though Willian, who scored last time out, and Thibaut Courtois are both out.

Diego Costa is favourite to open the scoring at 6.1 (51/10) with 888 Sport, ahead of Eden Hazard who is 8.5 (15/2) chance with Bet 365.

The home win is widely available at 2.45 (29/20), with the away victory as the 3.1 (21/10) on offer from a variety of firms. The draw can be backed at a price of 3.5 (5/2).

Arsene Wenger’s men are unbeaten in the league since their opening weekend defeat to West Ham United, though lost their European tie to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb.

The Gunners have no fresh injury concerns, though Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky remain side-lined.

Olivier Giroud, who was dismissed at the Stadion Maksimir on Wednesday evening, is priced at 7.5 (13/2) to get the first goal of the game with Paddy Power, who offer 8.0 (7/1) for Theo Walcott to net the opener.

These two sides met in last month’s Community Shield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring the only goal of the game.

That was Arsenal’s first win in eight matches against Chelsea, with last season’s corresponding fixture ending in a 2-0 home last October win before the sides played out a goalless draw at the Emirates Staduim in April.

There has been at least one clean sheet in each of the last six meetings between the sides, so you may be tempted to back that outcome here at 2.38 (11/8) with Bet Victor.

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